Now for the serious stuff

RichardSEL

Junior Member
Messages
130
Thank you for your kind words of encouragement. I know (because I've spoken to an MOT tester area supervisor) that they are serious about their work but constrained by budget and manpower. I shouldn't have had to go this private route to even get the DVSA to accept the proofs of what had been going on. What I've posted in this thread shows what the still unsuspecting general public are having to put up with. Even though DVSA say at the moment my complaint is "out of time" (without saying what that time limit is at the outset of accepting a complaint)

There's a slow public realisation over here (pre-occupied with Covid-19 and its new varient) that there are some areas of public service that have become self serving and self seeking: BBC, National Health Service, etc. Whilst responsible ministers are politically selected by reason of having a history of being a "safe pair of hands" rather than any history of radical reform
 

spkennyuk

Member
Messages
5,930
Thank you for your kind words of encouragement. I know (because I've spoken to an MOT tester area supervisor) that they are serious about their work but constrained by budget and manpower. I shouldn't have had to go this private route to even get the DVSA to accept the proofs of what had been going on. What I've posted in this thread shows what the still unsuspecting general public are having to put up with. Even though DVSA say at the moment my complaint is "out of time" (without saying what that time limit is at the outset of accepting a complaint)

There's a slow public realisation over here (pre-occupied with Covid-19 and its new varient) that there are some areas of public service that have become self serving and self seeking: BBC, National Health Service, etc. Whilst responsible ministers are politically selected by reason of having a history of being a "safe pair of hands" rather than any history of radical reform


That particular body have been the same for many many years. Going back to circa 1993 I purchased a mark 1 Astra from a garage for 2k to cut a very long story short it was sold with a 12 month MOT that was not worth the paper it was writen and embosed on.

3 months after i bought the car and various trips to several garage to try and figure out why the tracking was constantly going out a taxi pulled out in front of me forcing me into an emergency stop. Lots of cursing followed but as i engage the clutch again the engine revs increased but no drive. Pushed it to the side of the road and the drive shaft was detached. Had the vehicle recovered and the true extent of the damage and botched up repair became apparent as the floor plan had split from the bulk head to the passenger side footwell.

So i can feel your frustration at the complete lack of interest from dvsa as i endured the same in the 90s. What i did do and i suggest its worth doing the same is sent a letter with the evidence to my local MP who at the time was Anne Coffey. I have to see she was brilliant. Taking the bull by the horns and kicking various departments into action.

As things developed Anne kept in touch to keep me informed by letter and phone calls. As it turned out the garage involved either got wind of what was happening behind the scene or realised that the game was up because they shut down the day before various officials were due to decend on their premises to seize their stock for inspection.

Thats the short version. If that had failed at speed on the motorway it would have put me through a barrier or up the embankment. Taking out any cars in my line of trajectory.

My point is while you have the bit between your teeth it is worth writing to your local MP along with the MP for the area of the garage that sold the car and the MP for the area where the MOT was done.

Im not suggesting that they will be as helpfull as Anne Coffey was but if they view it the same was as we do then there are other things they can do to bring pressure to bear on the guilty parties regardless of what dvsa tell you.
 

MaseratiGent

Member
Messages
162
I'm ex-Traffic & Transport Branch myself -- got transferred (despite my protests) at 61 years old into the control room for my last four years. Retired in 2011. So probably all my old contacts have also retired, left the service or taken voluntary redundancy. But nowadays using one's contacts to further personal claims is a no, no. So will have to go the old fashioned route that joe public takes.

On 20th September used the online MOT complaints' service since I bought in January with the MOT dated December.
It was quite clear that the diff oil seal was leaking, the headlights were askew to nearside, the front sub-frame was rusted through (just in one place though) and the control arm bush was torn. I saw those items when the workshop came to examine. If I could see them, the MOT shop could see them too.
But the MOT had "no advisories".

MOT complaints have not replied. So on 20th October downloaded their form and sent it in Recorded Delivery. Still no reply.

What chance anyone will investigate the Airbag Fault kludge?
Not a lot IMO...
Today's wet behind the ears kids will just try to input match it to a "known" crime category on either CRIS or CRIMINT (Met computer crime input programs) and finding none that match will just mark the record "no crime PS/CM"

But I will write to the relevent Minister at the DfT to see whether I do get a reply.
Adding my experience with the airbag fault
He or she should at least know that the MOT complaints' system is being ignored.
A letter to Honest John and the Top Gear mag are likely to have a more successful and powerful outcome.
 

RichardSEL

Junior Member
Messages
130
Go on ancestry.com and check with the stated previous DVLA owner has gotten divorced. You'd have an interesting case to answer then.

Again thanks for all the replies. Nothing back yet from DVSA... what with Level 4 Covid-19 lockdown and Christmas & New Year. Nevertheless, I expect that this will turn out to be a pantomime. Especially for this year's MOT, that I had reviewed. More follows...
 

RichardSEL

Junior Member
Messages
130
Pantomime? Oh no it isn't... [Audience] Oh yes it is...

Following just flooded in from DVSA (Lucy again, bless her!) in response to my attempt to try and get the testing station's oil leak MOT advisory off (found to be blowback of Waxoyl on the sump cover)

Thank you for your email enquiry dated 1 January 2021, concerning an MOT.
An application to appeal against an MOT can only be lodged if you disagree with the failure or the pass issued against a vehicle. Unfortunately there is not appeal process in place for advisories issued.
The use of advisories is not mandatory, but testers are instructed that it would be wise to issue an advisory in the following circumstances:-
· Where they find a defect on a non-testable item.
· Where they are not certain that a defect meets the criterion to justify failure.
· Where they consider that an item has passed the test, but will require early replacement, adjustment or repair.
It would be good practice for the MOT tester to issue an advisory notice if he spots an issue with the vehicle meeting the above criteria, but there is no legal obligation for him or her to do so.

Whilst, there is no legal requirement for advisories to recorded, the Motor Vehicles (Tests) Regulations 1981 as amended (MVTR) provides the legislative requirements for a tester to input advisory items at their discretion.
The advisory notice is an optional device to assist test stations in advising presenters on the present condition of non testable components etc. The issue of this document is not covered by MOT Regulations (unlike the VT20 and VT30) so DVSA cannot enforce its use, though we always put strong emphasis on it's use especially during training.

I hope that this has assisted with your enquiry, however, should you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact us again.
Over 90% of customers surveyed are satisfied with the service we have provided. Let us know what you think by clicking here.
Kind regards
Lucy | Customer Service Centre Agent
Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency | The Ellipse, Padley Road,
Swansea, SA1 8AN Phone: 0300 123 9000

DVSA_3298_DIGI_AW
Helping you stay safe on Britain’s roads

I think I'm starting to lose my presence of mind ;-))Waxoyl on Sump Cover close.jpg
 

safrane

Member
Messages
16,747
I have a car who's first MOT recorded the distance traveled in kilometres rather than the miles, due to the digital display having the option to show both.

They can't change that either.
 

Wack61

Member
Messages
8,764
The MOT has been open to abuse since the day it was bought in but you'd think someone prepared to issue MOTs by post would be bright enough to fail a few :D

80118


The court also heard that, over a 4 month period, 2,463 vehicles were given an MOT at Mr Hussain’s garage yet none failed. The average failure rate in Britain during that period for an MOT was 32%.
 

RichardSEL

Junior Member
Messages
130
I have a car who's first MOT recorded the distance traveled in kilometres rather than the miles, due to the digital display having the option to show both.

They can't change that either.
Metrication was as a result of EU diktat. The "Metric Martyrs" went round changing direction signs in Km and Metres (usually put up by the local councils) back to miles and yards.
It took court cases accusing those brave patriots of "Criminal Damage" to be taken to the Court of Appeal before the State admitted that there was no law whatsoever changing our centuries' old traditional distance measurements.
Not even EU "law" ;-)

IMO, if an odometer shows Km then the tester will record Kms.
 
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RichardSEL

Junior Member
Messages
130
6 months imprisonment? Last figure I heard was £108 per day for each scroat we have to pay...

£60,000 fine? We'll never see a penny of it. So eventually he'll be held in contempt of court and sentenced to, er... um...

...Altringham is 18 miles away from Bolton
 
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RichardSEL

Junior Member
Messages
130
I totally agree with you and also understand, we have all been there. But it’s just that the ex policeman keeps saying that it wasn’t illegal for him to do so, it was.

This email just in from DVLA following my query about UK registered cars being bought back to UK following export quote: "The only circumstances in which you can drive the vehicle are to and from a pre-arranged IVA/MOT test and to and from a garage for remedial work following failure to pass the test."

Didn't think I'd dreamed it...
 

Saigon

Member
Messages
778
This email just in from DVLA following my query about UK registered cars being bought back to UK following export quote: "The only circumstances in which you can drive the vehicle are to and from a pre-arranged IVA/MOT test and to and from a garage for remedial work following failure to pass the test."

Didn't think I'd dreamed it...
I still say that it is illegal to drive a car on the public highway with an obvious and known dangerous fault. And how more obvious could it possibly be than the car just failing it’s MOT, and that failure being recorded and logged as being due a dangerous fault.
 

RichardSEL

Junior Member
Messages
130
I still say that it is illegal to drive a car on the public highway with an obvious and known dangerous fault. And how more obvious could it possibly be than the car just failing it’s MOT, and that failure being recorded and logged as being due a dangerous fault.
Oh, of course! But a number plate light out, or a brake light not working on nearside for example? These are faults that can lead (and in the bad old days did) lead to MOT failures. But don't by themselves render the vehicle dangerous, or unroadworthy.

I mention particularly nearside brake light (that I've done a stop for in the past) only to face a "review" as to why I did that. As it was, didn't know at the time, driver had more than 12 points on license but clever DVLA hadn't done the totting up so licence wasn't invalidated (but should've been)
Took all necessary precautions before doing the stop though -- dynamic risk assessment: quiet road, good vis, parking area, 30-ish MPH. That review was prompted by driver's brief in an attempt to maintain driver's licence (needed for work, supporting wife and kids, bla-de-blah all the stuff leftie registrars like to hear... )

That experience also taught me that if you're challenged over what you do in carrying out your duties, there's no guarantee your line management or employer will back you up :-((

But back on topic -- I still maintain an automatic with a working "P" position should not be failed because of weak handbrake. Advisory certainly...
 
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RichardSEL

Junior Member
Messages
130
Pantomime? Oh no it isn't... [Audience] Oh yes it is...

Following just flooded in from DVSA (Lucy again, bless her!) in response to my attempt to try and get the testing station's oil leak MOT advisory off (found to be blowback of Waxoyl on the sump cover)
<snip>
Spoke with the MOT test station who undertook to take back and re-examine if there's an oil leak following major surgery earlier last year. Took the precaution of going to the workshop first where I was shown the waxoyl blowback.
And to my backstreet friend (from Albania, yes really!) that has a lift who also checked.
MOT station agreed to pay me back my £50.05 petrol money spent if no oil leak seen. There wasn't ;-) But told me that he could'nt get the MOT advisory off.

So, if I wanted a clean MOT I'd have to apply all over again

So just issued me a note to attach to the MOT in case this year coming the Greater London Authority ban 4.2L cars from entering their beloved diesel-polluted congestion charge zone.
(my Maz QP5 '08MY meets uLez as currently laid out -- Euro 4 minimum)
 
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Wanderer

Member
Messages
5,791
Oh, of course! But a number plate light out, or a brake light not working on nearside for example? These are faults that can lead (and in the bad old days did) lead to MOT failures. But don't themselves render the vehicle dangerous, or unroadworthy.

I mention particularly nearside brake light (that I've done a stop for in the past) only to face a "review" as to why I did that. As it was, didn't know at the time, driver had more than 12 points on license but clever DVLA hadn't done the totting up so licence wasn't invalidated (but should've been)
Took all necessary precautions before doing the stop though -- dynamic risk assessment: quiet road, good vis, parking area, 30-ish MPH. That review was prompted by driver's brief in an attempt to maintain driver's licence (needed for work, supporting wife and kids, bla-de-blah all the stuff leftie registrars like to hear... )

That experience also taught me that if you're challenged over what you do in carrying out your duties, there's no guarantee your line management or employer will back you up :-((

But back on topic -- I still maintain an automatic with a working "P" position should not be failed because of weak handbrake. Advisory certainly...
P isn't really an emergency brake tho is it? It totally locks the transmission, it's a parking brake to hold the car stationary. If your main brakes failed and you selected P on the autobox pretty sure either the wheels would lock up or the parking pawl would just break off.
 

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,541
P isn't really an emergency brake tho is it? It totally locks the transmission, it's a parking brake to hold the car stationary. If your main brakes failed and you selected P on the autobox pretty sure either the wheels would lock up or the parking pawl would just break off.

True but try applying the handbrake and see quite how fast you slow down...

That's assuming the EPB will even engage at speed.

C
 

conaero

Forum Owner
Messages
34,593
As a pain that the handbrake is, if you drive off with it engaged or rusted it will do one of two things.

- rip the linings/and/or shoes off

- crack the hub.

if you crack the hub it’s a grand plus fitting for the rear suspension unit (upper and lower wishbone and the hub). On top of that lot you will need the handbrake cable, shoes, springs and so other hardware.

That won’t make for a very pleasant day :(

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